Waters Frontman Van Pierszalowski Tells Us Why Dallas Has Been So Great For Him

After leaving Port O' Brien, for which he formerly served as frontman, Van Pierszalowski traveled to a variety of locales, seeking a bit of sanity as well as for some personal and artistic regrouping.

Following the demise of a band that had risen to indie-darling status after releasing three well-received full-lengths, stays in Norway, Alaska and New York City eventually led him, interestingly enough, into Dallas' arms. He was finally ready to record a new project, and he'd decided to go with a producer that's become a go-to resource for indie bands of all types: John Congleton.

The resulting album, Out in the Light, which Pierszalowski is releasing later this month under his new Waters moniker, is one of the better indie-rock records that will see its release this fall. While Port O' Brien found their sweet spot in-between folk, indie and acoustic rock, Waters utilized cranked-up amps and a mixture of Replacements-style garage and post-punk elements to give Pierszalowski's piercing vocal an effective showcase.

Waters has been (and will continue to be) touring with a veritable who's-who of critical darling acts. Dates with the Joy Formidable, Wye Oak and Vetiver are among the highlights on the band's current docket. Tonight, Pierszalowski and crew will be hitting Hailey's in Denton, opening for recent SubPop signees Mister Heavenly.

Given the Pierszalowski's ties to the area, we thought it would be an ideal time to get a Dallas-related All Time Top Five from him. He kindly obliged, and his answers are after the jump.

All-Time Top Five Things About Recording In Dallas

1. John Congleton. It was the first time I'd ever worked with a producer, and I couldn't have been luckier than to work with John. He has an amazing ear and was so easy to work with. We recorded the whole album in 10 days, which had a lot to do with the efficiency of Mr. Congleton.

2. Spiral Diner. This vegan spot is perfect for the mid-day lunch break. They have an awesome menu, but my favorite jam was the quesadilla.

3. The Fort Worth Zoo. We finished a day early, so we had one day of roaming around. My guitarist, Nikolai, had never seen a tiger and very badly wanted to, so I took him to the zoo. It was my first time to a zoo since I was a little kid, and I had a surprisingly fun time.

4. Good Records. One of the best record stores in the country. We happened to be around for Record Store Day, so we got to hang out at their party and saw some great bands.

5. Hunky's Hamburgers. This was another of our favorite lunch spots. It's pretty basic food, but done in such a great way. We went there so many times that it started feeling like home to us. I actually really miss it while I'm thinking about this list from California.